SPRINGFIELD -- Community activists have praised a $10 million project to redevelop the Memorial Square Apartments in the North End, saying it provides much improved housing for residents, construction jobs and neighborhood stabilization.

Memorial Square Apartments Limited Partnership, the company that has gutted and is fully renovating the 40-unit, six-story building at 2295 Main St., began the work in April and expects the building will be ready for full occupancy in March, said Heriberto Flores, managing partner of the ownership.

"I feel real proud of this because this is a project that everybody in the community is shooting to make happen," Flores said. "I think we have to do more like this in this city and take all these old buildings and rehab (them)."

Flores said the project involves a mix of private and public funding including tax credits for the investors. The project helps preserve a historic building and helps preserve 40 units of affordable housing, he said.

Jose Claudio and Norman Roldan, among neighborhood activists in the North End, praised the work being done.

"I think it's great that Herbie, as always, has been a champion to fight for the betterment of rsidents in the North End," Claudio said. "He really has put a lot of work into fixing buildings, some historic, to make a difference in the North End."

The preservation of apartments is "key factor, and helps improve the quality of life," Claudio said.

Roldan, president of the New North Citizens Council, called the Memorial Square project "a positive project for the North End, an improvement for the community." In addition, he said the project provides jobs for many residents, union jobs, and apprenticeships.

The building has all new windows, and will have state-of-the art, energy-efficient systems including a new sprinkler system, an elevator and laundry facilities in the basement, Flores said.

All tenants were relocated to allow for the full renovations, and will have the right to return there if desired, he said.

Flores said there are many economic development opportunities occurring in Springfield including the MGM Springfield casino project and the CRRC rail car development occurring on Page Boulevard in East Springfield.

"At some point you are going to need housing, good affordable housing, for working people," Flores said. "This is a working people building."

Flores said he received great cooperation from local, state and federal officials and agencies in securing public funding and tax credits for the project including the administrations of Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Gov. Charlie Baker, and U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

The general contractor is Reliable Construction of Framingham, but most of the subcontractors are local, and many of the jobs went to local residents, and with a focus on providing a significant number of the jobs to minorities and women, Flores said.

"I think it's important people living in the city have a chance to build the city and we built the city with rock and roll," Flores said. "This is the rebirth of Springfield."

Years ago, there were shootings, drug dealing and other crime in the neighborhood, but that has been improving as investments are made with private and public dollars, Flores said. The city with state funding is reconstructing Main Street in the North End, and recently announced a $500,000 project to improve Jaime Ullola Park on Morgan Street.

Flores said Memorial Square Apartments project beings good, well-paying jobs to many in the neighborhood, adding that when people start to invest in the neighborhood, the people take ownership in the neighborhood.